Re: Midgard

From: Stephen Weir <sweir@sweir.free-online.co.uk>

Date: Tue, 02 Mar 2004 11:18:18 +0000

Carol Mulholland <carol@pbmgames.com> wrote in
news:VA.00004488.013509f9@oemcomputer:
> I think that it'd be just a headache to set up a new game using the
> title of an old one, whatever the legalities. Potential players would
> be confused, and the GM would be faced with their expectations, which
> probably won't match what he plans to offer.

This in itself is one of the reasons why I mentioned the "passing off"
infringement.  If someone calls a game Midgard and makes it "very
similar" to the original Midgard, people would be expecting the game to
*be* Midgard.  The following two points were taken from the "passing
off" description on the http://www.patent.gov.uk website:

- the public associate your mark with the goods you produce or the
services you provide

- there is a likelihood of deception

If it were a football PBM game there wouldn't be much confusion, but if
it were "very similar" to the original Midgard there would.

> Of course, it's not unknown for a player to set up an 'improved'
> version of a game that he's enjoyed playing. Whether it's plagiarism
> or evolution depends on the game itself, I reckon...

I have absolutely no problem with the evolution of games.  Think of how
many clan based games were inspired by Tribes of Crane or Midgard, yet
they all have their own individual ideas.  The closest one to Midgard I
can think of was Clans by Warrior Games, but even it was more
fantastical than the medieval structure of Midgard.

What I do object to is some idiot who makes a living from PBM games,
making these statements on a public forum.  To do something like that
would never even enter my head, and he knew full well the damage it
could potentially cause.

So let me make myself perfectly clear.  If at any time I feel that the
licence I hold for Midgard has been compromised, I *will* sue.

--
Stephen Weir

New Year's Resolution # 1: I will not argue with idiots on Usenet!
List of Games for Sale - http://www.glipe.free-online.co.uk
Midgard UK PBM - http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/midgard_uk_pbm/
Current eBay Auctions - http://makeashorterlink.com/?F1F521555
ICQ # 11472386

References

Re: Midgard
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Wed, 25 Feb 2004 18:37:10 +0000
Re: Midgard
Carol Mulholland <carol@pbmgames.com>
Mon, 01 Mar 2004 22:40:24 +0000
Re: Midgard
Stephen Weir <sweir@sweir.free-online.co.uk>
Tue, 24 Feb 2004 18:59:41 +0000

Referenced By

Re: Midgard
madcentral@aol.com (MadCentral)
Wed, 25 Feb 2004 18:37:10 +0000
Re: Midgard
Carol Mulholland <carol@pbmgames.com>
Mon, 01 Mar 2004 22:40:24 +0000
Re: Midgard
Stephen Weir <sweir@sweir.free-online.co.uk>
Tue, 24 Feb 2004 18:59:41 +0000